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Business Standard, 15th Feb 18
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In what would be a huge capability jump, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is increasingly interested in procuring the American F-35 Lightning II for its depleting fighter fleet.' V: t4 b, a: W3 q3 ]; y
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Business Standard learns the IAF top brass is formally requesting for a classified briefing by the F-35’s prime builder, Lockheed Martin, on the capabilities of the sophisticated, fifth-generation fighter developed under the US Joint Strike Fighter programme.! ?- O" }. s! X
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The US government has not formally offered the F-35 to India. A classified briefing would require formal clearance from the US Department of Defence (the Pentagon) and the State Department. The grant of such a clearance would be an important first step towards permitting the sale of F-35s to India.2 Z% n7 ?! l" S4 f) t, r+ Q( W2 p3 B7 O( M
/ S2 K0 C( s* `9 aIt is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A
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The F-35’s affordability is also attractive for New Delhi. In contrast to the bare-bones price of $115 million for each Rafale fighter (with India-specific enhancements, spares, logistics and weapons all extra), the F-35A cost customers $94.6 million last February. Lockheed Martin says it will reduce the cost to $80 million by 2020.$ j6 c X. h; [: ~$ Y) p& f" U2 e
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K) [; u% e$ v9 f3 b: kSources close to the Pentagon say India would not be sold the F-35 as long as it is partnering Russia in the FGFA co-development project. That is because Washington would guard against the leakage of F-35 technology into the FGFA.9 M0 G8 j5 f0 Z2 R
: i( }; {; n' S5 f0 Z2 Z0 ZSenior officers say the IAF is not enthused about the FGFA project. They point out the F-35 is further advanced in development and has already entered service with the USAF and six-seven air forces of American allies.6 C9 I/ N s7 A$ }5 e
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